Design buzz: Horseplay at home; New Texas bedding at Biscuit; AIA tours the Heights on bikes

By Sarah Rufca,4, ,2,1

Updated 3:28 pm, Friday, January 31, 2014

Photo: Neiman Marcus

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Pair of antique Han-style brass horse statues, $495 at Neiman Marcus.

Pair of antique Han-style brass horse statues, $495 at Neiman Marcus.

Photo: Neiman Marcus

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Luxembourg horse trinket box, $98 at Johnathan Adler.

Luxembourg horse trinket box, $98 at Johnathan Adler.

Photo: Jonathan Adler

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Houston photographer Tracy Carlson specializes in color-saturated images of West Texas landscapes and wildlife, including a series shot at Hoof Prints and Heart Beats, a free equine therapy ranch in Needville, Tex. Prints $30-$200 at etsy.com/shop/tracycarlsonphoto. less

Houston photographer Tracy Carlson specializes in color-saturated images of West Texas landscapes and wildlife, including a series shot at Hoof Prints and Heart Beats, a free equine therapy ranch in Needville, ... more

Photo: Tracy Carlson Photography

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Hand-knotted Tibetan wool rug âPonyâ by Alexander McQueen for The Rug Company, $8,802 for 6x9 feet or $163 per square foot at therugcompany.com.

Hand-knotted Tibetan wool rug âPonyâ by Alexander McQueen for The Rug Company, $8,802 for 6x9 feet or $163 per square foot at therugcompany.com.

Photo: ONLINE_YES

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The Mansfield House at 1802 Harvard in the Heights is a stop on AIA's bike tour Feb. 8.

The Mansfield House at 1802 Harvard in the Heights is a stop on AIA's bike tour Feb. 8.

Photo: ONLINE_YES

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The latest collection of bedding from Biscuit, $60-$300, was inspired by a trip to Marfa and features subtle Texas themes.

The latest collection of bedding from Biscuit, $60-$300, was inspired by a trip to Marfa and features subtle Texas themes.

Photo: Biscuit Home

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The new collection of bedding from Biscuit Texas prints, such as wildflowers.

The new collection of bedding from Biscuit Texas prints, such as wildflowers.

Photo: Biscuit Home

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The latest collection of bedding from Biscuit, $60-$300, was inspired by a trip to Marfa and features subtle Texas themes.

The latest collection of bedding from Biscuit, $60-$300, was inspired by a trip to Marfa and features subtle Texas themes.

Photo: Biscuit Home

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Design buzz: Horseplay at home; New Texas bedding at Biscuit; AIA tours the Heights on bikes

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GOODS

In Chinese astrology, the year of the horse, which began at the start of the lunar new year on Jan. 31, is said to bring luck and good things. Capture that positive energy with equine-themed home décor: 1. Print by Houston photographer Tracy Carlson, from a series shot at Hoof Prints and Heart Beats, an equine therapy ranch in Needville, $30-$200 at etsy.com/shop/tracycarlsonphoto. 2. Hand-knotted Tibetan wool rug "Pony" by Alexander McQueen for the Rug Company, $163 per square foot at therugcompany.com. 3. Luxembourg horse trinket box, $98 at Jonathan Adler. 4 Antique Han-style brass horse statues, $495 at Neiman Marcus.

TOUR

For years, the American Institute of Architects' Houston chapter has led walking tours that shed light on the unique architecture and history of Houston's most interesting pockets and neighborhoods. Now AIA Houston is expanding with biking tours of the Houston Heights The next tour rolls out on Feb. 8.

The Heights contains 120 of Houston's 215 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so there's plenty to cover. Starting at the Heights branch of the Houston Public Library, the tour moves at a leisurely pace and predominantly features the residential area around Heights Boulevard, the commercial district on 19th Street, and north from there up to the formerly industrial (now residential) corridor near 23rd. Tickets are $10 ($5 for members) at aiahouston.org. Reservations are required, as tours are limited to two groups of 12.

"On a walking tour the conversational nature of tour can grow and take its own shape. On a bike tour, moving from site to site the conversation is more specific," said AIA Houston associate director Mat Wolff. "What's most fun about these tours is the wide variety of people - it's usually a mix of architects and neighborhood people, while the guides are giving you specific information. You get these exciting conversations."

BEDDING BUZZ

Want to dream of big, West Texas sunsets and prairies full of wildflowers? Houston shop Biscuit Home's latest collection of luxury bedding is inspired by classic Texas themes. Owner Bailey McCarthy and textile designer Isabel Wilson came up with a trio of new prints following a trip to Marfa.

A bubbly cactus print is named after the artsy town; pretty bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes represent the Hill Country town of Wimberley; and the Nacogdoches pattern is made up of slender and colorful arrows. Each pattern is hand-painted by Wilson and the 350-thread-count, 100-percent cotton sateen sheets are printed and sewn in the U.S. Texas bedding collection, $60-$300 at Biscuit Home, 2606 Westheimer, 713-942-9797; biscuit-home.com.

Sarah Rufca

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